Leaf catcher for beet dumps, etc.



Jan. 24, 1933. w, s vE 1,895,268

LEAF CATCHER FOR BEET DUMPS. ETC

Filed Aug. 22, 1950 a Sheets-Sheet 1 4 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY;

Jan. 24, 1933. w, L R 1,895,268

LEAF CATGHER' FOR BEET DUMPS. ETC

Filed Aug. 22. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Murm w Jan. 24, 1933. SILVER 1,895,268

LEAF CATCHER FOR BEET DUMPS, ETC

File d Aug. 22. 1930 s sheets-sheet s Patented Jan. 24, 1933 UNITED ST T S.

. JAMEs w-., SILVER, F QGfiEN, UTAE LEAF aims mg FOB BEE'I sums, Era;

Appl ication filed Auimstaa'meo; seriarnt. 977, 169;

This invention relates to beet dumps and machines for handling beets or other vegetables or, materials which may have loose leaves mixed therewith, and the principal 5 object is to provide novel means in such machines whereby any detached leaves will be caught and separated fromthebeets as the latterpass from the conveyor onto the dirt screen, thus preventing the loose leaves from passing onto the dirt screen, said leaves being discharg'ed'into the dirt hopper, or other suitable receiver.

The invention resides in such novel means, and more specifically in the novel construction and arrangement of an endless leaf catcher disposed between the head pulley of the beet conveyor and the receiving end of the dirt screening unit, the beets discharged from the conveyor dropping onto a part of such leaf'catcher moving in a direction opposite to the direction of the gravital move ment of the beets and leaves, the leaf catcher being arranged at such an angle that the beets cannot lodge or rest on the catcher but will continue to drop by gravity downwardly thereover and drop onto the dirt screen, while the loose leaves will be caught by the catcher and discharged thereby into any suitable receptacle.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings which illus-' trate one practical embodiment thereof; and will summarize in the claims the novel features of construction and novel combinations of parts for which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of part of a beet dump or cleaning mechanism, equipped with my novel leaf catcher.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the leaf catcher and adjacent portions of the elevating conveyor and the dirt screen.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the leaf catcher and adjacent portions of the conveyor and dirt screen, with arrows indicating the direction of travel of each respective unit. I

The invention is applicable to various types of machines and I have illustrated it as used in connection with a well known type of beet dump having an elevator E into which the harvested 1 beets: are discharged. The beets together with the'l'oose leaves and soil. 7 adhering thereto are 'lo rdinarily discharged directly upon an endless dirt screens moving in the same direction as the conveyor-E and usually consisting of an endless-conveyor comprising. a series of hooked-bars evenly spaced and, running over idler sprockctsfi, the series being driven ."by'; "sprockets S5 which engage the bars" directly, with means S8 whereby the screen is agitatedto shake the beets and separate the dirt' and refuse therefrom theseparated dirt and refuse being usually discharged into a hopper Hrand "the a cleaned beets into a receiver R. V In theoperation of the usual dirt screen, it has been found that sameydoes not remove a suflicient quantity of the loose leaves owing to the fact that the natural tendency of the limp loose leaves is tooling or hang to the bars S and travel in the same direction as these bars travel. This auowsthe leaves to be discharged over the end of the dirt screen with the beets into the railroad'car or other receiving apparatus R.- Now, it is awell known fact that for a higherpercentage of leaves mixed with the beets while in storage the greater is the tendencyof the beets to rot.

One purpose of myinvention therefore is'to keep the beets as free from leaves as possible, thereby minimizing. this tendency of the beets to rot; I

In the construction illustrated an inclined leaf catcher indicated as a unit'atC is inter posed between the discharge end of the'ele vator E and the receiving end of the dirt screen S. Thisfleaf catcher preferably coniprises a series of transversely disposed par allel bars,interlocking atthei'r ends,.,fortning an endless carrier one end ofthe'series running over sprockets 2 mounted upon a shaft'Qa and theother end ofthe seri s-slid ing around stationary circular guides 3 open on each side to allow for easy'cleaning,"said shaft 2a being disposed parallel with the shaft 521; of the head pulley 5'of theelevator E, and also parallel with-the shaft 6%; s11- porting the adj tic-enema sprockets B of" the separating screen S. 1 ago Preferablfa cylindrical shield plate "or shell 4 is arranged, between thewheels 2 on the shaft 2w, this shield being of suchdiameter that anyleaves which cling to the. catcher bars will be dragged around and rubbed they descend at;theiunderside ofthe catcher.

V 5a, as indicated by the arrowsin Figs. 1, 2

Interposed between the lower end of the leaf catcher C and theadjacent end of the screen S is a deflecting pla'te410 sealing the opening between said units to prevent the beets or the like from falling by gravity into hopper H between the units, and for depositing the beets on the screen S.

The shaft 2a of the catcher is preferably driven in adirection opposite to the direction of rotation of thepulley 5 and sprockets 6. Preferably, a fl chain "50, running around sprocket fib onthe elevator shaft 5a and around sprocket. on the drive shaft for the screen S,runs over'a sprocket 2?) on the leaf catchershaftQc whereby shaft Qaisdriven by said chain the opposite direction to shaft and3. l v H In-operation, the leaf catcher C is disposed atxsuch an inclination thatthe beets falling on the supper run of the catcher-will not rest thereon but will continue by gravity to tumble down thereover and pass by plate 10 off onto the screen S as indicated in Figs.

2 and 3 but the leaves being flabby and of a clinging nature will adhere to or wraparound the upwardlymoving bars in the upper run of thecatcher and will be carried thereby up and around thejshield 4, and will drop off by gravity asthe bars descend in the lower run of the catcher. Any leaves which may cling to or wrap around the bars will be rubbed against theshield-A and-'be disintegrated and drop oif,- The leaves falling from the catcher are directed into the hopper H into whichthe dirt-separatedfrom the-(beets by the screen S is also discharged. Any loose leaves, grass or light clingymatters therefore will be caught bythe catcher C and separated from the beets before the latter pass onto the dirt screen Syandconsequently said screen S will operate much more efiicientlythan it could if such leaves were sprockets over which the upper bend of the endless series runs, and a substantially arouate shield conforming with the upper bend of the endless series interposed between the sprockets against which leaves clinging to the bars will be rubbed and disintegrated.

,2. In a machine as set forth in claim 1,

stationary arcuate guides over which the lower bend of the endless series runs.

8. In a machine of the character specified having a separating screen and conveyor for discharging beets and leaves onto the screen; an upwardly moving inclined leaf catcher comprising an endless series of parallel bars interposed between'the conveyor and screen spaced sprockets overrwhich the upper bend of;the.catcher runs, and a cylindric shield arranged within the bend of the catcher between the sprockets and against which leaves adhering to the bars will be rubbed and disintegrated. I v I f I 2 Lin a machine as set forth claim 3, stationary arcuat e guides over which the lower bendof the endless series runs.

I 5. In amachine of thecharacterspecified having a separating screen and conveyor for v discharging beets and leaves onto the screen; an incllned leaf catcher compnsing an endless series of lnterconnected parallel bars in terposed between the conveyor; and screen 9 spaced sprockets over which the upper bend of the catcher runs, a shield arranged between thesprockets and againstwhich leaves adhering to the bars will be rubbedand dis:

integrated; stationary arcuate guides over 1 which the lower bend of the catcher runs,

andmeans for rotating the sprockets;

- a 1 JAMES W.

SILVER, Pf

discharged thereon with the beets; and in addition, the separation ,of'the leaves from the beets discharged into the beet receiver R will protect the beets against deteriorationand rotting. which always. accompanies beetsf'placed in storage with leaves mixed thereinp, i

Iclaim,:+-[ a v V 1 a 1. Ina machine of the character specified having a separating screenand'conveyor for discharging beets and. leaves onto the screen;

. aninclinedleaf catcher comprisin'gan end:

less series of parallel bars interposed-be tween the [conveyor-and screen aspaced Q 

